Dusktime walks & a sunrise

Back in La Tranche your faithful blogger returned to his daily walks, not always achieving the 10,000 steps target when the weather said no!

Five minutes away from Casa Clegg is 'le plan d'eau', the artificial lake where you can learn sailing skills, particularly in summer months.

There's also a good silhouette of the trees from the cycle-path.

Our beloved jetty just before sundown...

...and a beautiful glow looking towards l'Île de Ré.

Someone's going to have to stop me taking end-of-the-day photos...

...but when they're as good as this?

And finally the odd one out

En route for an appointment in La Rochelle, Tine captures the rising of the sun over the old marshlands.

The end of an era

The first end of an era, sadly it's renewing my passport.

No longer a European but just a Brit

The second end of an era, it's the closing of the Starfish & Coffee.

Luckily for us the last night was whilst we were in Yorkshire. We'd have found it very hard.

New proprietors...

...and it's now Le Comptoir (the counter).

We went to the opening night and were made to feel very welcome.

Nothing lasts forever and I wish the great owner and staff the best of luck.

Meanwhile Matthieu escaped to Figeac, here with cousin Caro, Loulou, Sylvie & Jo. It looks like they had a wonderful time.

Ready for the winter?

As I get older I find the winter harder & harder. We rarely get snow in La Tranche but it's often around freezing point with icy blasts of wind.

However our log fire can warm my old bones!

These photos were taken at the beginning of November...

...Matt's volleyball team showing off their skills on the beach near the jetty.

Sacha is improving his skateboarding skills.

That's your faithfil blogger photobombing. Photos courtesy of Matt.

I might not like winter but I love winter food: baked camembert with a glass of white and selection of hams. Wonderful!

Sitting soft & curry times for junior Cleggs

 It's hard to remember when we bought these sofas but I reckon they're a good 25+ years old!

A note on a local share site...

...and we said goodbye within hours!

We're so happy with our two new sofas that we've now ordered a third, arriving in the next few weeks.

The model's not bad either!

Yes, we were back in La Tranche but Matt & Sacha were in Bingley for a few days. What a shame we didn't overlap! 

Sacha in Peacocks, our favourite curry house...

...joined by Steve & Maddie.

Last visit

Back to our old haunting grounds of Lister Park in Manningham, Bradford.

The main gates to the park with Cartwright Hall in the background.

We weren't alone, Mr Squirrel making an appearance.

In these unpleasant times of anti-semitism...

...a positive note.

Samuel Lister

AlfnBets loved the playpark last time we were here

Peter Pan statue in the middle of the boating lake.

Your faithful blogger in the autumn of his life?

Did I say we weren't alone? Mr Rat made an appearance too!

The cyclamen were beautiful...

'er indoors too!

It's 50 years since we lived on the middle floor of this house. We have mixed memories: great parties but oh so cold in winter!

And there it is, another trip back to the UK over.

A Family Do

It's not often we have a big family do but we managed it last October with just a few missing members, plus a couple of extras if you can spot them!

The crowds are amassing! That's Philippe & Alfie in the foreground..

A quick scoop round most of the crowd.

Nephew Mike with his two (George & Lily) to his right, then Rosie with her mum, niece Vics and my brother Pete.

The cat's out of the bag: the two extras are Steve & his girlfriend Jo (well, they're practically family). Tine & Nadine obviously deciding what they're going to eat.

Sister Kate and daughter Rachael are middle left, son Rob is at the end of the table chatting to Nadine.

Who said Betty liked puds?

Betty's delighted with something whilst I'm chatting to Kate.

Son-in-law Simon with Jade & Philippe

A lovely photo of my sister Ann with Vics' partner Ste.

And finally the group shot. See how many you can recognise!